International Desk:
A bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and the European Union was held on Sunday (March 29, 2026) on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman and senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce were present at the meeting. Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič led the European Union. He was accompanied by Trade Director General Sabine Weyand and other senior officials.
In the meeting, the Commerce Minister reiterated the strong commitment to further strengthen the economic partnership of the European Union with Bangladesh. He said the new government is taking forward-looking steps to enhance Bangladesh’s inclusion in the global value chain and develop a business-friendly environment, which will accelerate sustainable trade-led growth.
Regarding Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC), the minister requested the European Union to extend the preparatory period by 3 years, so that it can maintain export competitiveness and avoid potential risks to the economy. At the same time, he called for the initiative to quickly negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, Bangladesh’s main ready-made garment export market.
The minister further mentioned that Bangladesh has already concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan and negotiations on FTAs and CEPAs are underway with various countries including South Korea, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. He said that Bangladesh has made significant progress in labor sector reforms as per the guidelines of the International Labor Organization and the revised labor law will be formulated soon.
The European Union assured Bangladesh of its positive consideration of its request for an extension of the preparation period for LDC transition and commended the ongoing reforms in the labour sector. It was also stated that Bangladesh’s proposed FTA would be assessed after completing the necessary internal processes.
During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of ensuring a level playing field, transparency and fairness in trade and investment. The European Union highlighted the need for balanced engagement, while Bangladesh reiterated its commitment to ensuring non-discriminatory and equitable treatment for all partners.
At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to maintain close contacts and continue discussions on trade, investment and reform activities.
